The shell work for the 124m high and 28m wide tower was completed in 95 days.

Essar Projects (EPL) completed the shell work of the biggest Prilling tower in India by slip form method, for client Matix Fertilizer & Chemicals, at Durgapur, West Bengal.

EPL is executing a contract from Matix Fertilisers & Chemicals, for an ammonia-urea fertiliser plant at Durgapur. The Prilling Tower is the unit that converts liquid urea to granular form and its construction requires stringent quality control. The slip form job for the 124m high x 28m diameter prilling tower started in full swing in mid-October last year.

Slip form construction is a method of continuously pouring concrete into a form or mold that moves up vertically with the assistance of hydraulic jacks. The process allows for a type of monolithic poured concrete structure that is positioned on top of a foundation and is completely hollow inside.

Challenges: The construction team had to brave rain, severe cold and inclement weather, yet succeeded in completing the entire job in a short span of 95 days. The job included 161 piles, 6,000cum of concrete, and 1,400 MT of rebar (reinforcing steel bar). Kudos to the team on achieving this inspiring milestone.

EPL is a global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company with more than 2,500 construction management staff, 1,200 engineering and technical personnel, and almost 45,000 on-site workers. Headquartered in Dubai, EPL has business footprints in India, Africa, Middle East, South East Asia, and Australasia, and is expanding rapidly in other countries.

Today, EPL offers strong capabilities in engineering, sourcing, construction, fabrications and project management to both Essar and the outside world. The company has served external clients such as ONGC, GAIL India and BORL.